Heroes of Modern Europe | Page 8

went willingly on an embassy to desire that Charles, the
brother or cousin of King Philip of France, who had been selected to
regulate the state of Florence, should come with a friendly feeling to
his party, if his arrival could not be averted. He remained at Rome with
other ambassadors for some unknown cause, while his party at Florence
was defeated and sentence of banishment was passed on him as on the
other leaders.
Dante loved the city of his birth and was determined to return from
exile. He joined the band of fuor-usciti, or "turned-out," who were at
that time plotting to reverse their fortunes. He cared not whether they
were Guelf or Ghibelline in his passionate eagerness to win them to
decisive action that would restore him to his rights as a Florentine
citizen. He had no scruples in seeking foreign aid against the unjust
Florentines. An {26} armed attempt was made against Florence
through his fierce endeavours, but it failed, as also a second conspiracy
within three years, and by 1304 the poet had been seized with disgust
of his companions outside the gates. He turned from them and went to
the University of Bologna.
Dante's wife had remained in Florence, escaping from dangers, perhaps,
because she belonged to the powerful family of Donati. Now she sent
her eldest son, Pietro, to his father, with the idea that he should begin
his studies at the ancient seat of learning.
After two years of a quiet life, spent in writing his Essay on Eloquence
and reading philosophy, the exile was driven away from Bologna and
had to take refuge with a noble of the Malespina family. He hated to
receive patronage, and was thankful to set to work on his incomplete
poem of the Inferno, which was sent to him from Florence. The
weariness of exile was forgotten as he wrote the great lines that were to

ring through the centuries and prove what manner of man his
fellow-citizens had cast forth through petty wish for revenge and
jealous hatred. He had written beautiful poems in his youth, telling of
love and chivalry and fair women. Now he took the next world for his
theme and the sufferings of those whose bodies have passed from earth
and whose souls await redemption. "Where I am sailing none has
tracked the sea" were his words, avowing an intention to forsake the
narrower limits of all poets before him.
"In the midway of this our mortal life, I found one in a gloomy wood,
astray Gone from the path direct; and e'en to tell It were no easy task,
how savage wild That forest, how robust and rough its growth, Which
to remember only, my dismay Renews, in bitterness not far from
death."
{27}
So the poet descended in imagination to the underworld, which he
pictured reaching in wide circles from a vortex of sin and misery to a
point of godlike ecstasy. With Vergil as a guide, he passed through the
dark portals with their solemn warning.
"Through me men pass to city of great woe, Through me men pass to
endless misery, Through me men pass where all the lost ones go."
In 1305 the Inferno was complete, and Dante left it with the monks of a
certain convent while he wandered into a far-distant country. The Frate
questioned him eagerly, asking why he had chosen to write the poem in
Italian since the vulgar tongue seemed to clothe such a wonderful
theme unbecomingly. "When I considered the condition of the present
age," the poet replied, "I saw that the songs of the most illustrious poets
were neglected of all, and for this reason high-minded men who once
wrote on such themes now left (oh! pity) the liberal arts to the crowd.
For this I laid down the pure lyre with which I was provided and
prepared for myself another more adapted to the understanding of the
moderns. For it is vain to give sucklings solid food."
Dante fled Italy and again sat on the student's "bundle of straw,"

choosing Paris as his next refuge. There he discussed learned questions
with the wise men of France, and endured much privation as well as the
pangs of yearning for Florence, his beloved city, which seemed to
forget him. Hope rose within his breast when the newly-elected
Emperor, Henry of Luxemburg, resolved to invade Italy and pacify the
rebellious spirit of the proud republics. Orders were given that Florence
should settle her feuds once for all, {28} but the Florentines angrily
refused to acknowledge the imperial authority over their affairs and,
while recalling a certain number of the exiled, refused to include the
name of Dante.
Dante, in his fierce resentment, urged the Emperor to besiege the city
which resisted his imperial